Life Safety – First Responder Radio Coverage

The First Responder Radio (FRR) portion of the 2017 Ohio Fire Code has been expanded from two paragraphs to three pages. JDRM Engineering has completed more than 400+ public safety radio tests for new and existing buildings. A pioneer in the engineering of First Responder Radio Testing and In-Building RF Amplification Design in Ohio, our services have expanded north into Michigan, west into Indiana, east to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and as far south as Florida. This offering has helped many clients with emergency responder radio testing and emergency responder radio coverage while extending our desire to keep safety and code compliance as the pinnacle of our consulting engineering services.

First Responder Radio testing continues to expand as plan examiners and fire code officials become aware of the provisions of the Ohio Building Code (OBC) and Ohio Fire Code (OFC) requiring all new buildings to have NFPA compliant emergency responder radio coverage. Additionally, the code now allows fire code officials to enforce this code in existing structures if they know their public safety radio coverage does not work.

Once your building has been enhanced, JDRM can keep you in compliance with annual code required inspections and test.

Need help meeting building code requirements for first responder radio coverage??

JDRM uses PCTEL’s public safety network testing solutions and has a PCTEL certified public safety tester with 40+ years’ experience on staff.

The following are among the 400+ in-building public safety radio tests JDRM has completed:

• Amazon Distribution Center – 2.6 million SF, Rossford, Ohio.
• Two First Solar Production Facilities – 2.4 million SF, Perrysburg, Ohio.
• The Tower on the Maumee, a 28-story high rise in downtown Toledo, Ohio
• The Mosiac apartment complex – three structures including two, four-story units located at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, Ohio
• Defiance High School and Middle School, 310,000 square foot facility, Defiance, Ohio
• Home2 Suites by Hilton an all-suite, extended-stay hotel at Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio
• Hull Prairie Intermediate School – Perrysburg, Ohio grades 5-6 building
• Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center Emergency Room addition – Toledo, Ohio
• The Renaissance Toledo – downtown hotel in Toledo, Ohio
• ProMedica Junction building (first known as the Toledo Trust building), downtown Toledo, Ohio
• BlueScope Steel Delta, Ohio
• DeVilbiss High School Toledo, Ohio
• Washington Local Schools- New Elementary Schools Shoreland and Silver Creek Toledo, Ohio
• Somo East & West Apartment Complex Sylvania, Ohio
• Caterpillar/ Peterbuilt Facility Perrysburg, Ohio
• University of Michigan Modern Languages building Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Otterbein Senior Life Pemberville, Ohio

The Ohio Building Code Section 916 Requires: “Emergency responder radio coverage shall be provided in all new buildings in accordance with Section 510 of the fire code.” The Ohio Fire Code Section 510 outlines these requirements for testing and In Building Amplification to conform to this important requirement. NFPA 1221 & 1225 (soon to be released), also govern installation requirements.

JDRM can help your organization become compliant with the regulations – click here for answers to frequently asked questions. Our trained staff, specialized testing equipment, and strategic partnerships combine to provide the expertise required to fulfill your emergency responder DAS testing requirements under the regulations. Plan examiners are requiring conformance to this code section and JDRM is ready to see you through the intricacies of the public safety radio coverage testing requirements.

If you have any questions regarding emergency responder radio coverage in buildings or need assistance in meeting this code, please contact:

JDRM Technology Department –419-824-2400

Steve Wheeler, RCDD, Technology Department Manager

Joel Tegtmeier, RCDD

Learn from the Professionals at JDRM Engineering

Steve Wheeler, RCDD, presents an engaging overview of code requirements and insights into Emergency Response Radio Coverage Testing and Design for organizations across Ohio and Michigan.

The State of Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance has approved three courses Steve designed for First Responder Radio Coverage Code Requirements for continuing education credits with the Ohio Board of Building Standards. Professionals looking to stay current with today’s emergency responder radio testing and coverage regulations including Building Officials, Master Plans Examiners, Building Inspectors, Fire Protection Plan Examiners and Fire Protection Inspectors, will receive certificates upon the completion of each session and JDRM Engineering will verify attendance and course completion with the board.

Additionally, the State of Michigan, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, has approved the JDRM Engineering course entitled First Responder Radio Coverage Code Requirements for continuing education credit. BI, PR and BO/PR Categories are approved for 01 Technical and 01 Plan Review hours. (Details available upon request.)

Steve Wheeler did a recent 2023 interview for Channel 3 WBTV Charlotte, NC. Watch the interview from the news link below.

“A WBTV investigation revealed that the emergency radio system is often failing in Charlotte when first responders need it most.”

https://www.wbtv.com/2023/11/16/radio-signals-failed-firefighters-scaling-charlotte-high-rise/

Please call Steve at 419-824-2400 if your group or organization would like to schedule a presentation to learn more about your public safety radio testing responsibilities and the in-building public safety radio testing regulations in place.

What attendees are saying

“Just wanted to say thanks for a very informative program and for providing all the goodies (edible and not edible).  I do plan review on a contract basis and knowing the code requirements is imperative to doing a complete review.  The information is very beneficial.”

“Thank you – this was one of the best 2-hrs sessions I’ve attended.”

“Your information was very well presented and is much appreciated – and I’m glad you had good humor with all of our questions and code challenges.”

A few of the past presentations have included:

• State of Ohio Fire Marshalls presentation at Perrysburg Fire Station on October 25th, 2022.
• BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibition, February 10, 2020, Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Florida.

Attendees’ comments included:

“Very good coverage of the material. I liked the code-to-practice understanding.”

“Terrific. Need more like this.”

• Michigan Fire Inspectors Society Fall Educational Conference, September 24, 2019 – Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire, Michigan
• Code Officials Conference of Michigan – Fall Conference, September 10, 2019 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of Michigan State University in Lansing, MI.

• First Responder Radio Coverage Code Seminars for Public Safety Professionals:  March 27, 2019.  Presented by the Central Michigan Fire Inspectors Society, Saginaw, Michigan.

What others are saying about JDRM

It was great meeting your team at Windermere HS last week, JDRM employees were professionals and very knowledgeable about the service they provided. We are looking forward to the final report to brief our senior leadership on actions moving forward.
Again, thank you,

Alvin L. Sims Jr.
Director of Fire, Health & Safety
Orange County Public Schools, Florida

Be sure the radio transmissions First Responders send makes it through YOUR facility!

Questions?
Steve Wheeler, RCDD
419-824-2400.
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